You'll Never Walk Alone -2
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart!
As the cheers of Borussia Dortmund's fans rang in my ears, tears streamed down my face before I knew it.
The comfort from the 80,000 spectators packed into Signal Iduna Park made it feel like the wounds I'd unknowingly buried deep in my heart were finally healing.
"Jino─!! Hang in there!!"
After crying my heart out for a good while, my chest felt refreshingly clear... but at the same time...
'Crying like a baby at almost 40 years old—what the hell is this.'
A twinge of embarrassment washed over me.
"Done crying? I thought you were a monster, but seeing you tear up makes you seem human now."
"I figured you were some soccer robot since you didn't even flinch after shanking that shot into the stands last time."
As I wiped my tears with an awkward expression, Kevin Grosskreutz and Kagawa Shinji ruffled my hair playfully before heading off.
"Jino, you're never alone! We've got your back, and so do the fans! Anyone who doesn't cheer for you isn't a real fan! Give it everything for the fans who support you!"
Mats Hummels followed up with his encouragement, and I gazed at the fluttering Borussia Dortmund flags, steeling my resolve.
'I can't win every match...'
But at the very least, I wanted to secure victory in our home games, no matter what.
Beep─!
With the referee's whistle, I hit the pitch with renewed vigor, motivation surging.
Dortmund had been in a rough patch lately, but...
They didn't seem likely to lose to Cologne here.
This was Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund's fortress known as hell for away teams.
"Sasha! Behind you!!"
The Dortmund crowd's roar was already throwing off Cologne's defenders—they looked disorganized.
"Damn it!"
Caught off guard by Dortmund's intense forward pressing, Sasha Riter fumbled a hurried pass.
I sprinted in, intercepting the ball before their defender could claim it.
The moment I turned with possession, aiming for Cologne's half...
Cologne defender Cerezo grabbed my jersey with his hand to stop me.
My balance shattered, and I tumbled to the ground.
"Ref─!!"
Flat on my back, I threw my arms wide, appealing to the referee.
Felix Brych, the man in the middle, promptly pulled a yellow card from his chest pocket and booked Cerezo.
"Jino, nice one!!"
"Danke."
Having forced a yellow on a Cologne center back right from kickoff, I grabbed Kevin Grosskreutz's outstretched hand and got back up.
Dortmund's free kick followed.
I stepped up as kicker, curling it toward Kevin Grosskreutz's head in the box.
In the chaos, the ball met his forehead.
Kagawa Shinji sneaked the knockdown into the net for the opener.
From Kagawa's goal, Dortmund seized control, hammering Cologne relentlessly.
In the 25th minute, Dortmund struck again, shaking Cologne's net.
"The goats are rattled! Let's push hard and bag one more!"
The Dortmund players burst out laughing at my words and ramped up the pressure on Cologne.
Just before halftime, Lewandowski's goal made it three for Dortmund in the first half alone.
Minute 68 of the second half.
"Jino─!!"
Han Gyeowol, cheering her heart out for Son Jinho from the stands, whipped out her smartphone the moment he was subbed off and headed to the bench. She logged into the Hoo Gallery.
Since it was an evening kickoff back in Korea—not the dead of night—the Hoo Gallery was buzzing.
Han Gyeowol smirked satisfactorily at the posts praising Son Jinho, then fired off a sappy comment before adding another ripping into the soccer association that had scarred her boyfriend yet again.
Humming to herself as she scrolled comments, Han Gyeowol's eyes caught one that grated on her.
She searched the username and checked their posts.
Her mood soured.
...
Full time.